Costa Concordia captain to stand trial in Italy

Francesco Schettino, captain of the Costa Concordia when it hit a rock and capsized off the Italian island of Giglio in 2012, will stand trial on criminal charges, according to media reports from Italy.

Prosecutors rejected a plea bargain with Schettino but accepted deals with five other potential defendants, his lawyer said.

Schettino will be the only defendant at trial, scheduled to begin July 9 in the Tuscan town of Grosetto.

Schettino is accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship before all 4,200 passengers and crew were evacuated. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years.